Carola Dunn starts the Daisy Dalrymple series with Death at Wentwater Court. Dunn drops the reader into the Hampshire countryside in the early 1920s. The reader is transported to the cold, snowy English countryside. Daisy Dalrymple is a likeable character both for her strength and her spirit. Her intelligence and insight also draws the reader to her side in most situations. When her plans to write an article for a magazine are interrupted by the suspicious death of a fellow houseguest, Daisy is drawn into the investigation and drawn to the Scotland Yard Inspector on the case. Class distinctions will have the reader biting his/her tongue to keep from shouting at the pages. During the course of the investigations, secrets are revealed that change the lives of the Wentwater family and their houseguests. Dunn immerses the reader in the stories of each of the guests so that the reader wants no one to actually be guilty at some points and to wish for guilt of most of the guests at other points. The characters engage, amuse, intrigue, and frustrate the reader in a way that keeps the mystery a mystery and explores human nature along the way. Dunn’s first book in this English cozy series leaves the reader curious about what will happen with Daisy next.
In My ’60s: Poetry from a Decade of Change by John Edge is an interesting read. The poetry is easy to comprehend. Edge writes a lot about his struggle to find his place in the world. Most of us can relate to that struggle in one way or another. Sometimes the writing feels expected, typical almost, but at other times a poem breaks out with deep resonation and insight. The poetry covers most of the aspects that make up life - career, love, food, shelter, and survival among them. In My ’60s is definitely worth the read.
Note: This book is currently not available through amazon.com. Please contact the publisher, Portmaneau Publishing, if you’re interested in acquiring a copy.
(Note: This review first appeared on by other blog, Write with TLC. Enjoy!)
Saturday night my husband and I watched the Eugene Ballet perform Dark Side of the Moon, a ballet based on and performed to music from Pink Floyd’s album, Dark Side of the Moon at The Hult Center in Eugene, Oregon. The performance was incredibly well executed and quite beautiful.
They started the evening with two shorter ballets, Without the Cover, exploring societal constraints and people breaking free, and Common Ground, an exploration of the constant struggle between nature, science, and industry. Both Without the Cover and Common Ground were visually interesting and well executed. Common Ground, at times was a bit too “natural” but was stunning in its presentation of message.
The star of the evening was the main event, Dark Side of the Moon. With The Floydian Slips, a Pink Floyd Tribute Band, playing live behind the performers, the event’s energy was magical. The dancers performed classical ballets moves interspersed with modern dances moves seamlessly. The vocals of the songs lent a depth to the movements on stage that left me breathless. Several times during the performance, I mouthed “Oh my God” as I marvelled at the power of the performance. The stunning visual effect mesmerized me. When spontaneous applause broke out in the audience at what would have seemed inappropriate times during any other ballet it broke me out of the my trance. The energy the dancers put into the moves and the joy with which they performed was apparent and spellbinding.
The performance by The Floydian Slips was very well done. I’ve seen Pink Floyd in concert, so I was a bit concerned I wouldn’t be able to give this part of the performance a fair chance. The Floydian Slips capture the spirit and the essence of Pink Floyd’s music very well.
The collaboration between the Eugene Ballet and The Floydians Slips created a memorable, enjoyable, interesting, playful, fun performance that was visually stunning and musically satisfying!
This was by far the best ballet performance I’ve seen yet!
Now, if I may make a suggestion. Eugene Ballet, how about The Wall next year? What do you think?
Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York is a book of poetry written from the point of view of York, William Clark’s servant, who accompanied Lewis and Clark on the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Ocean spanning 1803-1806. Walker researched his subject quite indepth and wrote a series of poetry to tell teh story from York’s point of view. Walker handles the subject matter with integrity, honor, and honesty. Buffalo Dance is a fascinating and well paced story written as beautiful, touching poetry.
The Epsilon Eridani Alternative by Beth Groundwater explores issues we face today such as the abuse of the resources Earth provides in this intriguing tale about a group of people sent to settle on a new planet with the hopes it will provide salvation for the people of Earth. When the couples find the cryogenics used to slow their aging didn’t work, the hope of populating the new planet with human beings is dashed. The colonists also realize communicating back to Earth the results of their findings will take too long. The colonists begin experimenting with the stem cells from the planet’s inhabitants to restore the colonists’ youth until unexpected consequences occur. Groundwater creates a world filled with characters the reader will alternately like and dislike, agree with and disagree with, root for and root against because of their complexity. Her exploration of the issues within the pages is both insightful and balanced. The reader will question the decisions the characters make on both sides of the issues they are facing. The Epsilon Eridani Alternative is a fast, enjoyable read by an author who is both skilled and talented.
Having grown up on a farm in Kentucky in an area much like what Barbara Kingsolver describes as her home in Virginia, I often laughed out loud while reading Aminal, Vegetable, Miracle which addresses issues we are all facing today. It’s obvious Kingsolver and her family feel strongly about the issues addressed in the book, but I enjoyed their celebration of simple pleasures as well as Kingsolver’s ability to poke fun at herself.
In Chasing Darkness, Robert Crais has Elvis Cole and Joe Pike scrambling to prove Cole didn’t help a guilty man escape conviction as much for Cole’s sanity as reputation in this novel filled with twists and turns.
In The Watchman, Joe Pike struggles to protect a young woman with killers on her trail, who challenges his characteristic emotional control.
In The Forgotten Man, Robert Crais delves deeper into the psyche of Elvis Cole when Elvis’s father - or is he? - is found dead. The investigation Cole and Joe Pike embark on to find the man’s identity forces Cole to wade deeper into the past he’d rather forget. Friendship, the kind we all long for in our lives and that Elvis has with Joe, is at the core of this suspense ride as it is in so many of Crais’s novels.
In The Last Detective, Robert Crais takes us deeper into the wisecracking Elvis Cole’s psyche as Cole searches for his girlfriend’s missing son - lost on his watch. In this emotionally charged story, Cole confronts memories from both childhood and his service in Vietnam - both things he’d rather not think about… ever.
Robert Crais’s writing shines in L. A. Requiem where we learn a little about Joe Pike’s childhood. This haunting, touching insight into Joe Pike leaves the reader breathless and more than a little affected, dare I say, even changed. This book transcends genre!
Indigo Slam - Two children hire Cole to find their father landing him in the middle of a U.S. Marshall investigation into the Russian Mafia in this fun read.
Sunset Express finds Elvis Cole investing the cops but suspicion soon turns to whose who hired him to investigate in an intriguing book.
Voodoo River - Crais takes the reader to Louisiana in this engaging read where Elvis Cole searches for the biological parents of a TV star and in the process finds love.
Free Fall - Elvis Cole, Joe Pike, South Central Los Angeles gangs, and corrupt cops fill this action packed book. What more could you want?
Lullaby Town is an intriguing book that takes Elvis Cole from Los Angeles to the East Coast in search of a missing woman and child, but do they want to be found?
Stalking the Angel brings Elvis Cole and Joe Pike up against the Japanese mafia in this entertaining book.
The Monkey’s Raincoat is the first book in the Elvis Cole series. It is filled with characters who will grip your attention and keep you wondering. Private Investigator Elvis Cole takes on the case of a missing husband that turns into a case of a murdered husband and missing wife and son. As he follows the case and comes up against bad guys who are upset about missing drugs, Cole’s wisecracks will keep the reader smiling even during the heart thumping action packed scenes.
This book is probably better for those moving to Chicago than for the “tourist” which is exactly why I liked it. It was filled with places I would never have thought to research for things to do while I was in Chicago.
The Road is disturbing for its realism and heartbreaking for the demonstration of love between the father and son. The struggle to survive, to protect, and to be charitable demonstrates a larger truth about life. The characters feel so real, and the bleak future described seems all too possible in Cormac McCarthy’s hands.
The Bastard of Istanbul is well worth reading. Elif Shafak created an atmosphere that engulfs the reader. The characters thoughts and actions had me squirming in my seat at times and admiring their bravery at others. A full realm of emotion was unleashed in The Bastard of Istanbul. Shafak’s words pull the reader into a history with two sides that reminds us there are always two sides to every story. The interwoven family dynamics and secrets are beautifully addressed in a way that makes the reader ache for the characters at times and celebrate at others. Shafak also manages to connect American culture, Armenian culture, and Turkish culture by creating characters with distinct backgrounds and strongly held beliefs that interact in a believable manner with very little sterotyping. A heart touching story that feels real and reminds us that all cultures have much more in common than they realize or wish to admit.
To Catch A Cook is my favorite Angie Amalfi book so far. Joanne Pence did an excellent job giving us a glimpse into what makes Paavo who he is as he discovers the answers himself. Angie’s actions were very well motivated in this book as well. Pence’s sense of humor always adds a nice touch to her books.
This series of essays will provide insight into the Appalachian experience and the stereotypes. It pokes at all the stereotypes people hold. Some essays are better than others. Crystal Wilkinson’s “On Being “Country”: One Affrilichian Woman’s Return Home” was particularly enjoyable. Some feel a little dated probably because the book was published in 1999.
< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />
When I read The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom by Suze Orman back in the 90s, it answered questions for me I didn’t even know to ask. It helped my husband and me to recognize what we had as well as to plan for the future. She also helped me to understand some of my own personal obstacles and to work on changing my mindset regarding those obstacles. I keep the book on my bookshelf to reference whenever necessary.
The Historian takes the reader around the world and through history in a thoroughly engaging read. Elizabeth Kostova immerses the reader in a quest to uncover the legend of Dracula in order to keep him from being unleashed on the world. The Historian provides glimpses into political situations through history and around the world without being overtly political though occasionally it did feel a bit like a history lesson. The relationships of the main characters as well as their relationship to the Dracula legend keep the reader entranced as secrets are uncovered and love blooms. Kostova shows the pitfalls a drive to find answers brings when the quest and discovery force realities and dangers into the lives of the characters populating the book. Kostova manages to make the reader believe, even if for just the time it takes to read The Historian, Dracula could really exist in this exploration of the bloodline and legend of Dracula.
To Hell in a Handbasket, the second book in the Claire Hanover series, takes the reader along on a family ski trip to Breckinridge, Colorado. Beth Groundwater’s examination of family dynamics set around a murder mystery is sure to have readers alternately biting their nails and laughing aloud. Dangers, both real and imagined, keep Claire on edge to protect the most important thing in her life, her family. Claire struggles to let her daughter become the adult she is while trying to protect her from physical danger. Populated with characters ranging from a wealthy accountant, Russian mobsters, helpful drug dealers, career snowboarders, and a thoughtful detective, To Hell in a Handbasket is a fast, fun, and entertaining read.
Readers will be torn between wanting to protect Baby Shark, aka Kristen Van Dijk, and wanting her to protect them in Robert Fate’s debut novel, Baby Shark. The book is populated with a cast of characters that intrigue, frighten, and inspire all at once. As the various characters help Kristen to identify and enhance her strengths and recognize her weaknesses, readers will be forced to look at themselves a little bit closer while longing for this type of support system in their own lives. Anyone who has ever felt vulnerable will recognize the actions taken to achieve justice from their fantasies. Fate manages to give a sense of realism to the fantasies that live in the minds of the victimized. Baby Shark is a well written, fast paced read that will leave the reader cheering for Kristen and feeling her pain, determination, and strength. Kristen is a character readers will long to know better.
Beth Groundwater introduces Claire Hanover, restless and underappreciated housewife, gift basket maker, and reluctant sleuth, in A Real Basket Case. Hanover’s gullibility drives her to make decisions that put her in danger and sometimes manages to save her. Her devotion to her husband and her motivation of saving her marriage are entirely believable and engaging in Groundwater’s capable hands. Groundwater writes all her characters with dimensions that show frailty, generosity, and the basic “humanness” shared by humankind. Readers will cheer for Hanover to succeed and commiserate with her failures. A Real Basket Case is the first in a series that promises to entertain readers who enjoy a lighthearted, engaging mystery for years to come.
Sara Paretsky’s Writing in an Age of Silence is a touching and well-written memoir. Paretsky points to her early home life as well as books and authors as influences for her future as a writer. She explains how working on the south side of Chicago during the Civil Rights movement influenced the creation of her series character, VI Warshawski. She exposes the prejudice against women writers that lead to the creation of Sisters in Crime and the continuing struggle women face for equality. She discuesses the erosion of American’s rights. Readers may not always agree with Paretsky’s point of view on the issues, but she presents her arguments in a well written way that’s sure to provoke discussion. Paretsky ties in how each part of her life has affected her writing career. Writing in an Age of Silence isn’t a writing guide. Paretsky reminds readers that writers are influenced by the lives they lead, the things they read, and the issues that matter to them.
Note: For a more indepth review, visit Suite101.
Beginning with the stiletto boots and whip on the cover, Where Angels Fear pulls the reader into a labyrinth of death, domination, and fear with just the right number of humorous turns. As Christy Bristol and her best friend, Lennie, uncover things Christy would rather not know existed and Lennie seems all too eager to explore, the reader feels both characters reactions intensely. The reader often feels torn between wanting to see more and yet to not really know just like Christy without her glasses in a room full of sexually charged strangers. Christy’s use of astrology is compelling and detailed perfectly leaving the reader both satisfied and wanting more. Sunny Frazier manages to immerse the reader into an underground sex world, the internal workings of Christy Bristol, and a murder investigation so completely, the reader feels Christy’s conflicting response to the investigation, her pain when she fears she’ll lose her boyfriend, her embarrassment when her ex-boyfriend places her in his squad car, and her bewilderment at learning her neighbors may be less inhibited than she’d imagined. Frazier has created a character in Christy Bristol that readers will gladly welcome into their living rooms in book after book to see how she grows and to learn more about how she uses her gift for astrology. Where Angels Fear is a delightful, fun read that proves Frazier has no fear as a writer.
Note: I want those boots…
Vermilion fuses Brazilian and Indian cuisine – a seemingly unlikely paring that works well. The décor in black, white and red manages to be both invigorating and relaxing. The chicken, beef, and lamb were all tasty, but the chicken really shined. Dessert was also delicious. This restaurant is one to keep on hand for special occasions because it is pricey.